Useful links

Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau is an independent local charity, run by local people for the benefit of local people. It is also a member of Citizens Advice, the national umbrella body that provides support to bureaux. Within the past five years, the number of enquiries has increased, from around 10,000 to just fewer than 30,000 per annum. The largest category of enquiry has alternated between Welfare Benefits and Debt Advice.

The East Durham Trust provide the CREE project which helps men, women and young people who are at risk of becoming socially isolated. Relate North East provide drop in sessions and workshops at some of these CREE's across Durham and we also have funding from the CDCF to provide relationship counselling to those people who use the service.

We can also provide Sex Therapy - contact East Durham Trust to find out more about how you can access these services.

Research shows that children do better in life when there is a good relationship between separated parents, as both will provide for their children's physical, emotional and financial wellbeing. However, we recognise that separation can be tough and it’s not always easy finding the help you need. In a recent survey of over 2,500 parents, feedback resulted in many of them wanting a definitive guide on the internet and one place to go to get it.

The Sorting out separation web app does just that. If you are separating or know someone who is, why not try the web app. It aims to signpost you to the help and support you need during separation so you can continue to work with your ex-partner to meet your needs and that of your child. The web app will help with a range of issues including parenting, housing, money and legal issues.

You'll find really useful tools, services and organisations offering specialist support to help with sorting out a separation. This could include help and support with child maintenance or other things like emotional support or help with housing.

At Relate we can help you to make a positive difference to your relationship and your children's future whether you are thinking about splitting up, already separated, or just thinking about what might happen.

This free guide is full of advice and practical exercises written by counsellors at Relate to help you work together in the best interests of your children. You can create a personal list of next steps by simply saving content to come back to as you need it.

If you live in North Durham and you want to have a say on what the local Clinical Commissioning Group have as their priorities or if you want to tell them about services you value then this project can put your views across to them.

Legal help

If you do decide to separate or divorce, we cannot recommend a solicitor to you, but we have worked with various local solicitors to explain how Relate's services might be useful to people who are going through divorce or separation. Many of these solicitors offer a free first session, fixed price fees and collaborative law. These solicitors are listed below:

What's Next: The Process

I am very happy with the service and have been treated very well. I am very grateful and don't know where I would be now without the help. I am worried about having no more sessions but I am trying to think positively